Field Laboratory Technician

Designated Position: Field Laboratory Technician

Reports to:                        Laboratory Director

Location:                            Carlsbad Desalination Plant (CDP)

Salary: $28-$30/hour (Could be higher or lower depending on combination of education and experience).

Work Schedule: Work schedule includes both weekday and weekend hours.

Company Description:

A world leader in water treatment solutions, IDE specializes in the development, engineering, construction and operation of desalination, water reuse, and industrial water treatment plants.

Role Description:

The Laboratory Technician performs field sampling and laboratory analysis of raw, process, and finished water to support the operation of the desalination facility. All samples, including environmental samples, are monitored in accordance with approved methods, laboratory SOPs, and quality system requirements. The technician ensures data integrity, regulatory compliance, and adherence to quality control procedures under the direction of the Laboratory Director/Technical Manager.

The position plays a critical role in protecting public health by generating accurate, defensible analytical data used to monitor treatment performance, verify regulatory compliance, and optimize plant operations.

Responsibilities and Duties:

Field Sampling & Monitoring

•        Collect raw seawater, process stream, and finished drinking water samples.

•        Conduct field measurements.

•        Maintain proper sample preservation, labeling, and chain-of-custody documentation.

•        Ensure compliance with holding times and regulatory sampling requirements.

•        Calibrate and maintain field instrumentation.

Analytical Testing

•        Solids analysis (SM 2540)

•        Turbidity (SM 2130)

•        Routine Wet Chemistry

•        Microbiological testing

Support of Desalination Plant Operations

•        Provide timely analytical results to operations staff for process control decisions.

•        Monitor parameters critical to performance and treatment efficiency.

•        Identify trends/Assist in troubleshooting process upsets through analytical evaluation.

•        Maintain awareness of plant treatment objectives and compliance limits.

Quality Control

•        Prepare and analyze LFBs, blanks, duplicates, matrix spikes, and calibration standards.

•        Document QC results and notify supervisory out-of-control conditions.

•        Assist with control chart maintenance.

·        Follow corrective action procedures.

Documentation and Data Integrity

•        Ensure traceability of standards and reagents.

•        Review calculations for accuracy.

•        Maintain compliance with TNI data integrity requirements.

Laboratory Maintenance

•        Maintain glassware and equipment.

•        Prepare reagents and standards.

•        Assist with inventory management.

Regulatory & Qualitative Requirements

•        Work in compliance with The NELAC Institute (TNI) standards.

•        Follow all approved SOPs and Quality Manual procedures.

•        Maintain training and competency documentation.

•        Participate in proficiency testing and auditing.

•        Comply with safety policies and chemical hygiene plans.

 Qualifications:

·        Bachelor’s degree in chemistry, Biology, Environmental Science, or related field.

·        Experience with environmental sampling or water quality testing preferred.

·        Knowledge of drinking water regulations and laboratory QA/QC principles preferred.

·        Knowledge of applicable safety hazards, chemical handling, and basic precautions for handling lab equipment

·        Experience with LIMS

Personal Attributes:

·        Ability to perform effectively in high-pressure situations, including regulatory deadlines, process upsets, and time-sensitive compliance reporting.

·        Strong sense of responsibility and accountability, recognizing that analytical data directly impacts public health and drinking water safety.

·        High level of integrity and ethical conduct, ensuring accuracy, transparency, and adherence to data integrity standards, Attention to detail, with the ability to follow complex procedures precisely and consistently.

·        Sound judgment and critical thinking skills, particularly when identifying abnormal deviations.

·        Ability to prioritize workload effectively.

·        Adaptability and flexibility, including willingness to adjust schedules for emergency sampling, plant operational needs, or regulatory demands.

·        Independent work capability with minimal supervision once trained

·        Strong communication skills, including the ability to convey analytical findings clearly to operators and supervisors.

·        Commitment to teamwork, supporting cross-training and collaborative problem-solving.

·        Professional demeanor in both field and laboratory environment.

Physical Demands:

·        Ability to lift to 50lbs

·        Ability to sit, stand, bend, crouch, kneel, climb, balance, push/pull, and walk for long periods of time

·        Ability to enter and exit small, confined spaces

·        Finger dexterity to work keyboard or operate tools, grasp tools and carry objects

·        Ability to see in the normal range of vision with or without correction sufficient to read computer screens, documents, dials, gauges, meter-reading equipment, and operate motor vehicles and equipment

·        Hear in the normal audio with or without correction

Environmental Conditions:

Industrial environment working both indoors and outdoors continuously around:

·        Loud noise

·        Dust

·        Heat

·        Salt and fresh water

·        Uneven, rough or slippery surfaces

·        Hazardous chemicals in solid, liquid, and vapor form

·        Toxic materials

·        High and low voltage electricity

·        Equipment under high pressure

·        Heavy equipment

·        Heights above 5 feet

To Apply:

Send resume / CV and cover letter to apply@ide-tech.com.